By Jung Da-minSocial media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and Instagram are serving as key bridges to Korean culture for foreigners.

YouTuber Josh (Joshua Daryl Carrott). Courtesy of CICI

Korean Englishman, a popular YouTube channel that shows Britons Josh (Joshua Daryl Carrott) and Ollie (Oliver John Kendal) experience Korean culture and lifestyle, has attracted over 2.9 million subscribers worldwide. The videos are subtitled in Korean and English.In recognition of their achievement, the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), an organization dedicated to letting the world know more about Korea, has named the two as recipients of the Korean Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award in its annual CICI Korea Image Awards.

YouTuber Ollie (Oliver John Kendal) Courtesy of CICI

"Josh and Ollie of Englishman, travelling between Korea and the U.K., have produced a variety of interesting Korean culture videos with outstanding Korean communication skills," the CICI said, announcing the recipients of its CICI Korea 2019 Korea Image Awards. The awards ceremony will be held on Jan. 10 at the InterContinental Seoul COEX in southern Seoul.About 600 foreign and local opinion leaders and influencers will attend the ceremony, including former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik and French philosopher and economist Guy Sorman.Meanwhile, Seoul Tourism Organization's social media service Visit Seoul, which has six social media channels, has been honored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for its strong role in helping foreign tourists by providing content in several languages.

Visit Seoul, Seoul Tourism Organization's social media service, has six accounts including three Facebook pages in English, Japanese and Chinese and Instagram in English. Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization

Visit Seoul received the award in the tourism information sector of the 2018 Tourism Awards held Tuesday at the Gyeongwonjae Ambassador hanok hotel in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province.Visit Seoul has three Facebook pages, in English, Japanese and traditional Chinese, a Weibo account in simplified Chinese and an Instagram in English. Its YouTube account offers videos in Korean, Japanese, English and simplified Chinese.Other award recipients included actor Park Seo-joon for appearing in tvN's show "Youn's Kitchen 2" to promote Korean foods in Spain.